Printing mechanism



De 25, 1934- F. A. BEACH l v PRINTING MECHANISM Filed March y1s, 19'33sheets-sheet 1 BEACH R O T ma N AmK m, m J m Y J ..r um, uw u O mv v Nm.v l \m v mm w o 1% m, v O m e n e Nw Nw uw s me 8% mm .WMS J mw afm I l0, DN l V| n l Q Nuv|||\} UN W m QQ O s: W Il .0, a U\w\ C UQ hv wv f,QQ NQ f\\ mw mw S x w NN ov m @S ORNEYS.

Dec. 255 1934. F. A. BEACH f 1,935,225

y PRINTING MECHANISM v Filed March 13, 1933 2 sheets-sheet z INVENTR lFREDERICK A. BEACH 'rToRNEYsQv Patented Dec. 25, 1934 UNITED STATESPRINTING MEcnANisM Frederick A. Bleach, Metuchen, N. J., assigner toJoseph Rubenstein," Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application March 13,

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in printing mechanisms,particularly in those ofthe multigraphing type.

The general practice in printing with duplicating machines is to impartimpressions of the charsary to replenish the ink content of the ribbon.

Attempts have been. made to do this without removing the ribbon from themachine by providing the machine with a reinking device comprising.

an ink fountain and rolls arranged to transfer the ink from the fountainto the ribbon while the machine is in operation. 'I'his device, however,has not been commercially successful. v This is due for the most part tothe fact that the character of the ribbons used is such as to preclude auniform transmission of the applied ink to all parts of the ribbon. As aconsequence, those parts of the ribbon contacting the transfer roller ofthe reinking device become supersaturated with ink and when the type isimpressed on the paper through these portions of the ribbon, the surplusink causes runs between the type producing smeary and smudgy prints onthe paper.

Workers in this art, therefore, in order to secure Asatisfactory printshave beenforced, when the` ribbons became depleted in ink, to removetheribbons from the machines and replace them with new ribbons properlysaturated with ink. This procedure is very similar to that employed toreplace worn out ribbons in typewriters. Needless to say, this procedurebesides being expensive is rather annoying and consequentlyobjectionable from a commercialstandpoint.

The present invention contemplates an improvement for overcoming theabove objections comprising a wiping attachment for the transfer ribbonwhich permits reinking of the ribbonl during operation of the machine byensuring a removal of surplus ink and a uniform distribution of the inkthroughout the ribbon.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a process foreffecting a uniform dist-ribution of ink in a transfer ribbon of aprinting 193s, serial No. 660,509

(ci. 10i-336) for removing surplus ink supplied during reinking of theribbon.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings of which Fig. 1 is aperspective view of a multigraphing machine in which my improvements areembodied.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the ribbon wiper.

Fig. 3 isa section on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a conventiona ribbon inking device. Onthe drawings:

The printing device disclosed in toto in Fig. 1 comprises a paperfeeding section 1 and a printing section 2 -mounted respectively on thesup.-

porting frames 3 and.3a which are secured together vby fastening devices(not shown).

The printing mechanism 4a of the printing section is of conventionalstructure including as it does the usual printing cylinder 4, cylindersupports 5 providing the journals 5a, transfer ribbon 6 and platen notshown). The cylinder is rotated by a4 motor 7 through suitable drivingconnections although rotation may be effected by the handle 1a ifdesired. Ink is supplied to the transfer ribbon through an inkingattachment 8 of ordinary construction (Fig. 4) cornposed of an inkfountain 8a, transfer rolls ll and intermediate rolls 9 and 10 operablein the manner shown in said gure. It will be appreciated that theseprinting parts lare embodied in the general run of duplicating machinesand constitute no part of this invention.

The ink supplied to the. ribbon 6 by the transfer rolls 11 isdistributed through the ribbon and excess ink removed from the ribbon bymeans of the ribbon wiper 12'shoWn in detailI in Figs. 2 and.3. Saidwiper 12 as will be perceived from Fig. l, is secured to a rearwardlyextending projection 14 of the supports 5 in a position to contact theribbon 6 directly after the ribbon has had wiping contact with thetransfer rolls l1.

The wiper 12 comprises a flat base 15 of wood or the like possessingnarrow lateral extensions 16. The base 15 is secured in a metal pan l'lhaving a flat bottomy 18, and vertical front and rear portions 19 and 20of about the same height as.the thickness of the base. Vertical wings 21are formed on the lateral edges of lthe pan in front of the extensions16 of the base l5. The

pan also has lateral extensions22, underlying and secured to theextensions 16 of the base 15. The

rear edges 23 of said extensions are upturned along the rear of saidextensions 16. Hinge sections 24 comprising pintle bearings 24a andhinge plates 2412 are provided for securing said-Wiper to tension 16. vAthick padding 28 of absorbent material such the printing mechanism. Itvwill be` observed from a reference to Fig. 3 that said plates 24hextend below the level of the bottom of the wiper. Each of said hingesections 24 is joined by a pintle 25 with a hinge section 26 rigidlysecured as by screws 27 to the upper face of a base ex- The wings of themetal pan provide Journals for a pair of spaced shafts 33 and34, one endof' which is provided with headed members 35, such as wing nuts, rigidtherewith. I'he other end of the shafts is reduced in size and threadedfor the reception of removable wing nuts 36, which can be turned up onthe shafts to lock the same in place. The absorbent layer 29 is coveredby a protectingstrip of muslin or the like'37 the ends of which aresecurely fastened to shafts 33 and 34. Said strip has a widthsubstantially equal to that of the layer 29 but has a relatively greatlength. As will be noted, said strip passes from shaft 33, about thelayer 29 and thence to shaft 34. The movement of the strip is caused byturning the shafts 33 and 34, after release of nuts 36, which effectsunreeling of the muslin from one shaft and a reeling up of the muslin onthe'other shaft.

.7d always clear and distinct.

The wiper when in use is attached to the projection 14 of the supports 5at a point slightly above and to the rear of the central axis of theprintingl cylinder by means of a rigid connection 13 between the hingeplates 24h and said proljection. Due to the location of the hinge pintle25 with respect to the point of connection 13 it will be apparent thatthe wiper will tilt forward under the urge of' gravity and rest againstthe surface of the .printing cylinder. lIn order to properly adjust thepressure of the wiper against the cylinder, one extension of the base 15is provided with a headed set screw 38 the lower end of which is adaptedto bear against the top of the supports 5. Rotation of the screw causesa lowering or raising of the wiper as the case may be and consequently achange in the force with which the wiper acts on the printing cylinder.

The operation of the wiper is apparent from the foregoing structure. Inkis continuously sup# plied `to the ribbon 6 by the reinkingarrangement'8 which applies the ink to the ribbon at spaced pointsbelowthe wiper. Rotation of the cylinder causes the reinked portions ofthe ribbon to pass beneath the absorbent surface of the wiper whichacting directly against the ribbon absorbs surplus ink and effects adistribution of thel ink through the ribbon. In this way theprinting isalways effected upon a properly inked ribbon and consequently the printsobtained are Whenever the muslin surface arranged over the bottom of thewiper becomes worn, a fresh surface is provided, by rotating the shafts33 and 34 as before explained. I claim- 1. The process for reinking thetransfer rib- 75 bon of a duplicating machine in which the ribbon ,iscarried by a rotatable printing roll, which ccmprises applying ink tothe ribbon at one point in the VLrotation of the roll and removingsurplus ink from said ribbon at another point in the rotation of saidroll priorto the printing step.

2. The process for reinking a transfer ribbon of a printing machinewhile the machine is in operation which comprises applying ink to onesurface of the ribbon and wiping surplus ink from said surface prior tothe printing step at a point spaced from the point of application of theink.

3. The process for reinking a transfer ribbon of a printingmachine whilethe machine is in operation, which comprises applying'ink to the ribbonand wiping the ribbon and absorbing surplus ink therefrom prior to theprinting step at a point spaced'froni the point of application of theink.

4. In combination with the transfer ribbon of a duplicating machine,means for applying ink to one surface of the ribbon while the machine isin operation, and means adapted to bear against this surface of theribbon at a point removed from the point of application of v'the ink toremove surplus ink from the ribbon.

5. The process for reinking a transfer ribbon of a printing machinewhile the machine is in operation, which comprises applying ink to onesurface of the ribbon and removing surplus ink from said surface priorto the printing step by subjecting the entire width of said surface to asimultaneous wiping and vink absorbing treatment at a point spaced fromthe point of application of the ink.

6. In combination with the transfer ribbon of a duplicating machine,means for applying ink to the ribbon while the machine is in operation,

and means comprising a wiper having a at base covered by ink absorbentmaterial adapted to bear against the ribbon at a point removed from thepoint of application of-the lnk to remove surplus ink from the ribbon.'

7. The process for reinlcing a transfer ribbon of a duplicating machineVwhileY the machine is in operation, which comprises applying ink to onesurface of the ribbon and removing surplus ink from said surface priorto the printing step.

said wiper comprismg a basehaving a flat bottom, absorbent materialsecured over said bottom and means for protectngsaid absorbent materialfrom the friction set Vup during wiping.

9. A device as dened in claim 8 wherein said wiper includes means forvarying the pressure 'of the wiper on said transfer ribbon.

10. In combination with the transfer ribbon of a duplicating machine,means for applying ink to the ribbon while the machine is in opera- 'Ition and a wiper adapted to bear against the ribbon at a point removedfroml the point of application of the ink to remove sin-plus ink fromthe ribbon; said wiper comprising a base having a flat bottom,absorbeirmaterial secured over said bottom and a fibrous strip movableover said absorbent'material for protecting said material from thefriction set up during wiping.V

11. In combination with the transfer ribbon of a duplicating machine,means for applying ink to the ribbon while the machine is in operationand a wiper adapted to bear against the ribbon -at a point removed fromthe point of' 'application of the ink to remove surplus ink from theribbon, said wiper comprising a base having a iiat bottom, absorbentmaterial secured over said bottom, a pair of shafts journalled to saidbase, a strip of brous material having its ends secured to said shaftsand trained about said absorbent material, and means for rotating saidshafts to move said iibrous material.

12. A wiping attachment for removing surplus ink from the transferribbon of a duplicating machine, comprising a wooden base having a endssecured to said shafts and trained about said absorbent material, meansfor looking said shafts against rotation, means for rotating said shaftsto cause diiierent portions of said iibrous material to overlie saidabsorbent material and means for securing said attachment to theduplicating machine so as to bear against theltransfer ribbon thereof.

FREDERICK A. BEACH.

Y dat bottom, a metal pan disposed overland se-

